Posted on September 11, 2018

Wrought Iron Desk Lamp

About A Vintage Wrought Iron Desk Lamp

Wrought iron desk lamps get their name from the material used to make their stand and general bodywork. They are versatile adding a stylish accent to a room which has made them quite popular in interior décor.
Although the term wrought iron has been misused in the current marketplace to mean all manner of bent metal works, the true meaning of the name is quite rich. It refers to iron which is heated to white-hot then hammered by a smith to produce the desired form.
The process of making wrought iron is quite technical, intricate and requires a lot of labor in steps like forged welding. As a result, a truly wrought iron lamp is often very costly and very rare. They are set apart by their nice curves and apparent hammering marks from the smith’s shop; a fact that is appreciated among enthusiasts. They are forged in low carbon conditions making them more impervious to rust than normal steel.

Benefits Of A Wrought Iron Desk Lamp

The wrought iron used in the lamp has a list of benefits. It can be bent, hammered and spun to create limitless design options. The beautiful patterns incorporated in the iron add to the appeal and artistic sense of any home or office.
Wrought iron desk lamps are tough and seemingly unbreakable, unlike cast iron lamps. You have little to worry about if it drops other than replacing the bulb.
Once purchased, the lampstand requires little maintenance. It remains resistant to weather and only needs repainting if you notice some paint peeling off every 3 years or so. All you do is dust it every once in a while to keep it shiny.
The wrought iron is environment-friendly and can be recycled, reused or put to different use. Since the frame lasts so long, it minimizes wastage.

Choosing A Wrought Iron Desk Lamp

There are various designs for wrought iron desk lamps based on different patterns, design, and size among other properties. These are factors you have to consider when choosing your lamp. Depending on where you intend to place it, the purpose and size of the area it is to light up, you can choose from a range of options.
For study desks, you might need smaller lamps that do not take up too much space and give out too much light. You can choose between simple conservative design patterns lamps to more intricately detailed wrought iron patterns depending on the mood of the room and your desires.
If you are searching for a study lamp, an adjustable one is a great choice. Wrought iron desk lamps also come with hinges which come in handy when you want the light closer to you as you read. Also, remember to choose an eye-friendly bulb especially if you intend to use the light for long hours.

Posted on August 6, 2018

Copper Desk Lamp

Shopping For A Copper Desk Lamp

It is true that when people come up with bright ideas, their heads start to shine like a light bulb. The history of the copper desk lamp, best explains how a simple idea can turn out to be a game changer for both its inventors and users. Before the 1790s, when coal began to be used for lighting, human beings relied on candles and rush lights for lighting. In 1810, Humphry Davy introduced to the Royal Society, the pioneer arc lighting system that was electrically powered. The commercial production of desk lamps begun in the 1870s. Joseph Swann and Thomas Edison were the most famously known producers, with Edison owning a production facility.

When Did The Copper Desk Lamp Go Mainstream

By 1920s, inventors were looking for ways to make lamps with articulated arms. They began experimenting with ideas involving counterweights and parallelogram arm structures. The first desktop lamp was made by Carwardine, an engineer, and freelance car designer a vehicle suspensions specialist. His copper desk lamp had an adjustable arm and head, allowing light to be directed where it is most needed. Later Redditch’s Herbert Terry & Sons, who used to supply Carwardine with springs, saw the potential of his invention and sought his licensing to get into the business of producing such antique lamps. The company started selling their Anglepoise lamps in 1933. Later, a Norwegian trader, Jacobsen, who was a sewing machine importer, changed his line of business to sell copper desk lamps. His involvement in the business helped popularize its use globally.

Lighting Desks For Over 200 Years

Copper desk lamps are more of accent lighting rather than general lighting. The lamps provide suitable lighting to working stations to enable one to accomplish a set task. This means not having to illuminate a whole room, thus enhancing concentration and saving power. Traditionally, the lamps were commonly used by bankers and students who spent long hours looking at small figures. The extra light directly focused on their desks helped avoid straining the eyes, thus improved productivity. Copper desk lamps are short in size and have a downward focus. The lamps have a switch at the bottom or can be made with a small chain near the bulb which acts a switch when pulled.

Posted on June 30, 2018 July 18, 2018

Art Deco Table Lamps

Art Deco Table Lamps & Shades

So what is the difference between Art Deco Table Lamps and Art Nouveau? If you’re like many people out there, you are clueless. Unless you specialize in this type of art, getting the two mixed up or using them simultaneously is common practice. To understand how Art Deco and Art Nouveau are different, firstly you must learn the definition of them both.

Art Deco Lamp Shades

In simple terms, Art Deco referred to luxury, glamour, and exuberance due to its craftsmanship. The name is short for Art Decoratifs, it usually combined modernistic styles with expensive materials and intricate craftsmanship. Excellent examples would be such things as Prometheus, a statue you will find at the Rockefeller Center in New York. Another example would be the Chrysler Building that is also in New York, both of these pieces of art are considered Art Deco.

Art Nouveau Lamps

This is an international style of art that was popular from 1890-1910. Its inspiration was Celtic art, especially the curved lines of flowers and plants. Art Nouveau is French for new art. It is the predecessor of the Art Deco Table Lamps. Thanks to art magazines of the era, it went international quickly but did not last long after 1910 when the newer styles of art took its place.

History

Unfortunately, the Art Deco Table Lamps movement was short-lived, which is a good reason they are sought after presently. After the Art Nouveau ended, Art Deco styles were the most popular from 1925-1940. Businesses and apartments buildings were often built in the Art Deco style including angular curves, motifs, and ornamental structure, and many still exist today in different areas of the United States.

Materials

The materials used were usually stucco, terracotta, smooth stone, and even concrete for buildings. Lamps, of course, could not be made of those materials, though many Art Deco lamps are made of either porcelain or glass, they are delicate and fragile. Art Deco style desk lamps are unique and stunning to look at nice to own. They can be used in most any home or office setting you choose. The lampshades of such lamps are usually quite simple, white or cream colored. But the base of these lamps is much more ornate and luxurious to look at. Often times they are carved intricately with hand-made designs with beautiful details. They are amazing to look at and wonderful additions to any home or office.

Pricing

Modern-day pricing of these lamps can run anywhere from inexpensive to mind-blowing expensive. Of course, a lot depends on where they are purchased from and how detailed they are, and what if they are still functional and vintage. Reproductions can run expensive in pricing as well due the the limited availability of the original and genuine table lamps

Posted on June 25, 2018 September 22, 2018

Antique Desk Lamp

Antique Desk Lamp & Shades

Antique desk lamps come in a huge variety of styles, colors, sizes, and materials they are made with. You can search for an antique desk lamp and get thousands of hits from the search engines. Below are three different types, but there are many more not mentioned here, that you may come across in your search for the perfect one. A good point to keep in mind when searching is the difference between antique and vintage. Antique, if you ask anyone in the antique business, is 100 years old or older and vintage is for items that are at least 50 years old, but there are some exceptions to those rules. But for now, just keep those numbers in mind, in case someone tries to sell you something that is NOT antique or vintage.

Art Deco Table Lamp

Art Deco is often confused with Art Nouveau, but they are completely different. First of all, Art Nouveau predated Art Deco by a decade or so. Also, Art Nouveau also had a shorter lifespan than Art Deco, even today, you can find many buildings that were created in the Art Deco era that are still standing and functional. The same can be said for table lamps.

Art Deco table lamps were made to be luxurious, rich, and with more expensive materials. They also contained many curves, flowers, glass, motifs, decorations, and more. Many were handcrafted with expert craftsmanship and intricate, handmade designs. The Art Nouveau era ran from about 1880 until around World War I. The Art Deco era, on the other hand, ran from about 1908 until around 1935, this also depends on which source you believe. Both are excellent lamps to have from their respective eras.

Bankers Desk Lamp

A banker’s desk lampis by far the most recognized lamp, right up there with hurricane lamps. The common green glass shade, pull string, and brass base and neck that can still be seen in libraries, courthouses, banks, lawyers offices, and especially in film and movies. There are even cartoon versions in many of the animated films or cartoons that can be seen. If you don’t think you’ve seen one, you’ve probably just never noticed especially if seen on TV or films. Many directors put them in the background of a set and shows for authenticity, or just as props.
There’s a pretty good chance if you’ve ever watched shows of some kind, you’ve seen one.

Banker’s lamps have a long history of showing up all over the place, even in the present day world. It’s no wonder that they are sought out in the antique desk lamp world. There is an idea, which experts claim, is why they are so popular or sought after. It comes down the original green lamp shade. The color green is thought to be a psychological factor that helps relieve stress on the eyes. Furthermore it is supposed to help the human brain become soothed and calm. The standard shade was green on the outside with opal white glass on the inside, but over the years, different colored shades were introduced as well as those with patterns. But the green shade is still the most recognizable for everyone.

Vintage Hurricane Lamps

Another recognizable lamp is the hurricane lamp. Vintage hurricane lamps also have a long history of use, even longer than many others. It is thought that hurricane lamps were created thousands of years ago, in the form of sconces, and back then it was the oils from animal fat that illuminated them. Keep in mind that though they have been around for thousands of years. Their name came about in 1780 when a Swiss watchmaker came up with the idea of an oil-burning lamp with a glass globe/chimney, and knob to control the wick and flame. That was when the term ‘hurricane lamp’ came to be, and even in the present day they are used mostly for when the electricity goes out, and a backup light source.

Vintage hurricane lamps can be seen in a variety of styles, including the original style with a glass globe/chimney. You can also find them with glass lamp shades instead of just the chimneys they were built with. Depending on your generation, your parents or grandparents most likely had the style with the glass globe or with a glass lampshade covered in a flowered pattern. No matter what style, they are a wonderful piece of history to own. When you search for an Antique Desk Lamp you can include the for-mentioned lamps on your list